GROVE CITY — No stick of chalk is safe around Andrew DiDonato.

The enthusiasm the first-year Grove City College head football coach shows sometimes comes with casualties.

“One thing I love about him is he always brings hype,” said junior Karns City graduate Tyler Kepple, who was moved this season from quarterback to wide receiver. “He’s fired up every meeting. He’ll be writing on the chalk board and he’ll snap his chalk because he’s so excited about what he’s writing.

“The one day he did it twice in a row,” Kepple added, smiling. “He snapped his chalk, turned around and said, ‘I’m so excited,’ and then snapped it again.”

Last year, DiDonato served an apprenticeship under long-time coach Chris Smith, who spent 31 years as the Wolverines head football coach.

DiDonato also played for Grove City College as a four-year starter at quarterback, graduating with school records in passing yards (7,509), completions (750) and touchdowns (49).

He also holds the single-season records in each of those three categories.

DiDonato was brought back in 2015 as the offensive coordinator and the coach-in-waiting.

The waiting is over.

And his time with Smith was invaluable.

“It was vitally important,” DiDonato said. “As I look back on it, I appreciate every day of the process of last year.

“Playing for him, I got to see his coaching style and he does everything the right way,” DiDonato added. “He’s a model example of how a college football program — especially a small college football program — should be run.”

DiDonato’s offense will remain the same with some slight tweaks.

“His ideas are great and everything is so much more advanced than anything I have ever run,” Kepple said.

DiDonato will face a challenge in his early days of coaching.

The Wolverines are currently mired in a 20-game losing streak and play in a loaded Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

“I’ve been told that you’re never ready to sit in this seat and that many things you’re going to find out the hard way,” DiDonato said. “Fortunately, I had a year with Coach Smith. I do feel that learning curve was reduced.

“I love to do a lot of reading and something that struck me back in high school was the idea of viewing yourself as a leader, preparing to be a leader, and when a leadership opportunity comes, take it.”

DiDonato, a Bridgeville native, was also a standout quarterback at South Fayette High School.

He began his coaching career in 2010 at the University of Buffalo, coached at Peters Township and served as the offensive coordinator at South Fayette in 2013 and 2014, helping the Lions to a 32-0 record and two PIAA Class AA titles.

He directed a South Fayette offense with Pennsylvania all-time leading passer Brett Brumbaugh.

“I always wanted to be a head football coach, so every place I’ve been I’ve sat there and thought, ‘What would I do if I was sitting in that seat?’” DiDonato said. “Preparing in that way has helped.”